Mountain Trails

Mountain Trails Foundation

We build, maintain and protect Park City, Utah's trails

News

Mountain Trails and Park City Mountain Support Trails on the Wasatch Back

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Mountain Trails Foundation, as the Community Partner in collaboration with Park City Mountain through Vail‘s EpicPromise, is delighted to announce a joint venture to provide professional expertise and financial support to fellow nonprofit trails organizations, South Summit Trails Foundation (SSTF) in Kamas Valley and Wasatch Trails Foundation (WTF) in Heber Valley.

Leadership at Vail Resorts has expressed keen interest in investing in the communities where it does business and in supporting a high quality of life for its employees in the places they live and work. Heber City, UT and Kamas, UT are communities where many Park City Mountain Resort employees live and recreate. 

This partnership will allow Mountain Trails Foundation, in alliance with these volunteer trails organizations, to expand its mission to build, maintain and protect trails. These partnerships create a strong win for all entities and the communities they serve. The partnerships with SSTF and WTF leverage Mountain Trails’ 30 years of professional experience in the nonprofit and trail building/maintenance sectors, against the deep connections and understanding of local need that SSTF and WTF have in their respective communities.

As growth in outdoor recreation continues to trend rapidly upward, pressure is exacted upon popular trail systems such as Park City’s. One of Mountain Trails Foundation’s strategies for preserving Park City’s world renowned, 400-mile trail system and maintaining high-quality trail experiences is to disperse trail users and diversify local trail systems. By expanding and connecting trail systems where appropriate, and building use-specific and/or directional trails in the region, trails maintenance is more manageable, great outdoor experiences are fostered, and communities are bolstered.

Trail tourism brings economic stability. Proximity to trail systems increases property value. Immediate access to trails bears a strong correlation with community mental and physical well-being. Trails stimulate social connection and pride in community. It is for these reasons that Park City Mountain through Vail’s EpicPromise and Mountain Trails Foundation are interested in combining forces with SSTF and WTF.

This partnership will lead the future of trails, prosperity and community wellness along the Wasatch Back.

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew

Spirit of Collaboration

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A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of informing two other nonprofit directors that, through its Community Partnership with Park City Mountain and Vail Resorts EpicPromise, MTF will be adding cash to their coffers. South Summit Trails Foundation (SSTF, Kamas Valley) and Wasatch Trails Foundation (WTF, Heber Valley) are small-ish nonprofits doing great work and, though their aspirations to improve trail access are admirable, their budgets are modest. Even as people in those communities rally and donate in support of down-the-street recreation, trail projects that greatly improve the quality of life in these communities are often stymied by lack of funding.

Depending on terrain and other factors, every mile of proposed trail demands an up front investment of $20,000+. Not including the cost of future maintenance, which in a changing/drying environment is increasingly important. Grant funding often covers only half the cost of a project. So, when you’re looking at, say, ten miles of trail . . . well, do the math. Small nonprofits have their hands tied.

Mountain Trails Foundation has a long history of experience and success in the fundraising, trail building arena. Thanks to visionary leaders, generous donors and unparalleled community support, we have the bandwidth to share. We are thrilled to step up, lend expertise where needed, financially invest in and collaborate with SSTF and WTF. As we unify efforts to improve quality of life on the Wasatch Back through responsible trail expansion and strategic connectivity, I pause to marvel at how the stars have aligned for this coalition. This opportunity expands MTF’s mission to build, maintain and protect trails and is one of the greatest honors we have ever enjoyed. 

Thank you Park City Mountain/Vail Resorts EpicPromise, South Summit Trails Foundation, Wasatch Trails Foundation and Trail Lovers like you!

Pitch In Here for Tomorrow’s Trails

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew

Trailside Bike Park Downhill and Grill

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From Basin Recreation

When: Friday, August 05, 5:00PM – 8:00PM

Where: Trailside Bike Park

Cost: Free

Join us for a celebration of our fantastic Trailside Bike Park and those that love to use it. The Downhill and Grill offers lots of tasty BBQ, fun music, and laps in the park.

Contact Nichole Wilson at (435) 649-1564, ext. 33 

or nichole@basinrecreation.org for more information.

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew

Work Trucks A Gift from Friends at Big-D Construction

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MTF’s Lora, Rick and Todd Henneman and Mike Kirby, CEO at Big-D.  All smiles on New Truck Day

For those of you who have seen us driving from trailhead to trailhead, you’ve probably noticed your donations aren’t going towards the latest vehicles. Our ’98 Toyota is a great example, providing 24 years of hard service and not winning any beauty contests.

With that context, it’s easy to imagine our excitement when Big-D donated two new-used trucks from their fleet to serve our mission. Thanks to their generosity, the money and time that would have gone into sourcing trucks will now go directly towards building, maintaining and protecting the trails we love! 

Support from local business is essential to our mission. If you want to discuss how your business can help trails, please email ian@ianmountaintrails-org

Thanks Again Big-D!

Give a Truck! Click Here to Support Trail Maintenance

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew

Trail Report –  Cyn City

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The completion of Charlie’s 9K trail two years ago was a real game changer for the Park City system.  We were super excited about the potential this “artery trail” held, not only for dispersing use, but also in creating meaningful, exciting, new connections and loop options, both hike and bike, between the 9K, Mid Mountain Trail and existing upper elevation trails. 

In mid-July, after two-plus years of planning and construction, the first of these connections, the Cyn City trail, came to its flowy fruition. The trail was named in memory of long-time local, trail advocate and mountain biking pioneer, Cyndi Schwandt. In addition to being a founding member of the Team Sugar women’s mountain biking club, Cyndi was a pioneer in women’s mountain bike racing and an early Park City trail builder.    

From the start, the vision was to design a directional, mountain bike-specific trail that had the potential to serve the largest number of riders. We wanted to create something that would be more inclusive and fun for riders of varied ability levels. Since Cyndi’s untimely passing three years ago, we have been eager to recognize her enduring legacy, and this project seemed like a perfect fit.  With the support from Cyndi’s family, the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation and approval from Park City Mountain, we were green light, GO!

The canvas that we were immediately drawn to was the Black Forest area at Park City Mountain. Looking at topo maps, having skied the area in the winter months and ridden the nearby Black Forest bike trail, we realized that there was an opportunity to create something unique. A sustained descent of nearly three miles and 700 feet vertical, in a north-facing, partially-gladded, pine and aspen tree canopy.  “Tree canopy” and “north-facing” are ideal for maintaining moisture in the trail tread and the pines typically hold the most sustainable, loamy, “hero dirt”. 

Drawing a line on a topo map is one thing but “ground-proofing” and laying out a trail on an extremely steep, 40-degree slope, with a precarious mix of thick brush and jumbled deadfall log-jams, proved to be incredibly challenging.  And as we bushwhacked and performed the log-jam limbo, the Black Forest offered up some of its secrets. In between the beer cans, animal bones and lonely solo skis, we discovered a laminated photo memorial from years past, a now closed mine shaft, and most peculiar, some rotary phones mounted high up in the pines along with their cordless counterparts in their chargers, sitting upon stumps, awaiting a call. Curious indeed!   

This project was truly a team effort, and I can’t give enough credit to the MTF crew members, who, over the past two summers spent many weeks with the chainsaws, removing hundreds of tangled blowdowns, clearing the way for Chase and the mini excavator. They also packed and shaped each of the 16 switchbacks, cleared back vegetation, sledge-hammered “shark fin” rocks, added drainage features (and fun features), and put the final touches on the tread to get it ride-ready.     

Long-time crew member and talented trail artist, Chase Smith, used the mini excavator as a both a scalpel and a paintbrush, creating smooth, flowy lines, perfectly shaped, bermed turns that “cradle you like a baby”, in-sloped “catch berms” and exaggerated grade reversals and rollers to bump up the fun factor.  There are also several strategically placed features including log, rock and root drops/jumps. The trail is, as Chase likes to describe it, “interactive”.  So, while a lower intermediate rider can navigate it without feeling intimidated, a more experienced rider will quickly realize that with a few extra pedal strokes, it can be as fun or as challenging as one chooses to make it. 

Since its completion, Cyn City has had quite the buzz about it.  We have had 10-year-olds, 70-somethings, and every age and ability level in between, all grinning ear to ear, as they exit Cyndi’s trail.  Our entire team is proud of what we accomplished with this challenging project and it’s incredibly rewarding to see it bring joy to so many.  Simply put by Chase, after seeing the stoke that the trail has created thus far, “I think we did good.”  I have no doubt that Cyndi would agree.

Trail Stats:

Type:  Bike Only/Directional Down

Start:  Black Forest 

Finish:  Mid Mountain Trail

Length:  2.52 miles (2.72 with Black Forest)

Descent:  700 feet

Number of switchbacks: 16

Loop Options: 

1)     9K to Cyn, Mid Mountain to Boulder, Moosebones to Empire Pass/Bonanza Flat TH.

2)     Mid Mountain to Tommy’s Two Step, Keystone, Fat Lip/Stiff Upper Lip, 9K, Corvair, back to the Mid Mtn TH.

3)     Lollipop Loop: 9K to Cyn, Riser to Tommy’s Two Step, Keystone, Fat Lip/Stiff Upper Lip, 9K back to Bonanza TH. 

Donate to Support Trails Today

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew

IN THE NEWS: PCMR, Mountain Trails Foundation partnership expands to other trail groups

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Nonprofits in Kamas and Heber City will soon benefit from Vail Resorts grant program

“We’re really grateful to PCMR and Vail’s EpicPromise for allowing this vision to bubble up. We’re super excited about that,” Smith said. “Mountain Trails is proud to be the funding mechanism that allows a public amenity like our trails system to exist and thrive. We are just such a fortunate community.”

A longstanding partnership between the Mountain Trails Foundation and Park City Mountain Resort has led to a new collaboration that will benefit area nonprofits with a similar mission.

As the community partner of PCMR, Mountain Trails Foundation receives a donation every year through parent company Vail Resorts EpicPromise Foundation. The charitable initiative gives $1 from every online transaction to the Park City-based nonprofit. A recent increase in proceeds inspired Mountain Trails Foundation to give the extra money to other trail organizations.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON PARKRECORD.COM

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Smith

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Executive Assistant
435-655-5853

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Accounting

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

2022 Trail Crew